Units

Secretary of U.S. Treasury gives final approval to Marauder Congressional Gold Medal design

Secretary Janet Yellin of the U.S. Treasury approved on Aug. 6, 2021, the final version of the Marauder Congressional Gold Medal design submitted by the U.S. Mint.  Multiple versions submitted by the Mint’s artists were reviewed, revised and again reviewed and revised multiple times before a final design was agreed upon by the Mint’s design committee.  Members of the design committee, chaired by “Russ” Evans at the Mint, are Marauder Gilbert Howland, and his son, Bob; Marauder Bob Passanisi and his son, John, and Travis West, U.S. Army Ranger Association president. They spent months reviewing the designs. The approved design has now been sent to U.S. Mint engravers for completion.  Speaker Nancy Pelosi choosing a date for the official CGM ceremony, which is invitation only, will hinge on when the engraved design is completed — probably in late 2021 or early 2022.  A private ceremony, which will be open to everyone, also cannot be planned until the medal is completed. An indoor mask requirement is currently in effect in Washington, DC.

GoFundMe account set up to raise $55,000 for WW II Foundation to complete its PBS Merrill’s Marauder documentary

Donations to the WW II Foundation for producing its PBS documentary on Merrill’s Marauders have been so slow that a GoFundMe account has been set up, marking the first time the foundation has ever used that source for its award-winning documentaries. Producer Tim Gray has even dipped into foundation operating funds for additional money to tell the important story of the 5307^th Composite Unit Provisional — and it still hasn’t been enough. Each documentary costs around $200,000 to produce.  The Marauder documentary will be the 3^rd about Army Rangers out of 29 produced by the WW II Foundation. Gray said the WW II Foundation’s goal is to preserve the amazing stories of the “Greatest Generation” so they are not forgotten. He is eager to finish the documentary and grateful that Kenton Gray has set up this account. However, he is saddened that the Marauders’ unique history has not received better support.

PLEASE HELP – Click on the GoFundMe link below to make a tax-deductible contribution!!

https://www.gofundme.com/special-wwii-documentary-needs-your-support

Two Merrill’s Marauder representatives inducted during July 2020 and 2021 Ranger Hall of Fame ceremonies at Ft. Benning

Marauders attend July 19, 2021, ribbon-cutting ceremony at new Ranger Outreach Center in Columbus, GA

Marauders Bob Passanisi and Gilbert Howland and their sons were honored guests at the July 19, 2021, ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new “one-of-a-kind” Ranger Outreach Center next to Saint Luke United Methodist Church on 2^nd Avenue in downtown Columbus, GA. ROC director Tony Mayne with the non-profit Gallant Few has been working with transitioning Rangers from his home office. The new Ranger Outreach Center provides an important physical location for transitioning Rangers to learn about the multiple resources available to them as they leave the military and enter the new world of civilian life. Mayne said the objective of the ROC is an all-encompassing endeavor that helps Rangers with their faith, finances and finding a job. “We care about their health, we care about their faith,” said Mayne. “It’s so much more than just finding a veteran a job. This is Columbus, Georgia taking care of the Rangers.”  The ROC is like a pathway for Rangers to live a civilian life of hope and purpose that will make them an asset to their communities. Following the official ceremony, the large crowd of Rangers, their families, local officials and members of Saint Luke congregation were given tours of the new ROC by Mayne and his wife, Nicole.

Marauder Bob Passanisi surprised with 97^th Birthday Cake during Ranger Rendezvous

During the Ranger Rendezvous Presidents’ Banquet, Marauder Bob Passanisi was presented with a cake full of candles in honor of his 97^th birthday by his son John.  Passanisi’s birthday was July 24^th. July is a popular month for Marauder RHOF inductees.  When Francesca Richardson accepted the 2020 Ranger Hall of Fame medallion for her Dad, Dave Richardson, on July 21, she said the day would have been her Dad’s 105^th birthday.  Jonnie Melillo Clasen, inducted as an honorary member into 2021 RHOF, said her Marauder Dad, Vincent Melillo, would have been 103 on July 23rd, when the Presidents’ Banquet was held. Melillo was inducted into Ranger Hall of Fame in 2013 the day after his 95^th birthday. Marauder James Richardson who died in December 2020, was a long-time, familiar presence during Ranger Rendezvous week and would have turned 100 in July.  Outgoing 75^th Ranger Regiment Association president Steve Johnson’s birthday was July 25.

Merrill’s Marauders Rocco DeLuca and Raleigh Nayes turn 99 years old in September

Two of the six remaining Merrill’s Marauders celebrate their birthdays in September.  If you would like to send them birthday greetings, please send your cards to the following addresses:

Raleigh Nayes
 % Jim Nayes
10435 Olson Dr.
Eau Claire, WI 54701

Rocco DeLuca
% Joyce Horey
87 Briar Lane
Norwich, CT 06360

Volunteers down “on hands and knees: to refurbish National Ranger Monument stones before 2021 Ranger Rendezvous

If you see fresh, new lettering on some of the stones at Ft. Benning’s National Ranger Monument, it’s thanks to a small group of Ranger and family volunteers. Prior to 2021 Ranger Rendezvous, a call went out from Art Attaway, new 75^th Ranger Regiment Association president, and Tony Mayne, director of the new Ranger Outreach Center in Columbus, GA, for volunteers to finish refurbishing some of the stones with faded Ranger names and replace broken ones. The monument is maintained by a non-profit foundation since the Army is not involved in upkeep of monuments on military installations. The refurbishing goal was to have everything completed before Ranger Rendezvous.  Despite the weather being hot and muggy and raining part of almost every day, a small but passionate group of adults and children volunteers showed up.  Each person had to get down “on their hands and knees” for the tedious work to give the stones a new look. Their efforts complimented a professional overhaul earlier this year of the entire Ranger Monument which included leveling the walkway where the more than 7,000 stones are located. Among the volunteers were MAJ Adam Rupert, Steve Caldwell, Rick Harris, a young, unnamed active-duty Ranger, Tony Mayne and his small daughter, Caroline; Israel Christian, son of Marc Michelic, 75^th Regimental Special Troops Battalion; and Mary Kubik, a Gold Star sister of SGT Ronald Alan Kubik.  Her brother was KIA on April 23, 2010, at age 21 in Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom. It was his third deployment following a previous one in Afghanistan and another in Iraq. Mary volunteers to honor her brother.  During Ranger Rendezvous she fulfilled a request by Mike Hall, president of the Three Rangers Association, and sang the “Star Spangled Banner” at a joint breakfast hosted by 75^th Ranger Regiment Association and U.S. Army Ranger Association.

PLEASE CLICK the small rectangle to see the volunteers “at work.”

Marauder “Gabe” Kinney honored by USARA base (local unit) named after him

A special connection formed through birthday and Christmas cards sent by Rangers Chris Rivers and Pat Kelly to Marauder Gabriel “Gabe” Kinney,100, in Alabama led to a surprise honor for the centenarian. Rivers and Kelly are part of a group of Rangers in the Florida – Alabama area who decided to start a U.S. Army Ranger Association base (local unit) and needed USARA permission for the name they had chosen for it. Rivers is president of the new base. Their problem was that new USARA bases could only be named after deceased Rangers, and they wanted to name it after Kinney, who at 100 years old, was very much alive. After USARA granted permission, Kelly arranged to meet Kinney and his wife, Elena, at their daughter, Carol Crawford’s, house in Alabama.  Another daughter, Patricia Nelson was also present. Kinney was surprised when Kelly told him that a group of Alabama and Florida Rangers wanted to officially name their base the “Flora – Bama Ranger Base – Marauder Gabe Kinney.”  When Kelly presented Kinney with a General Merrill challenge coin and a much larger one of Myitkyina, Burma, Kinney was visibly moved.  “It’s got the whole map on it,” he said when turning over the Myitkyina coin. Kelly said, “Now with the naming our base after a true American hero and patriot, Ranger Marauder “Gabe” Kinney, we have established an unmatchable history and lore for our base.” Retired BG “Joe” Stringham, current president of Ft. Benning’s National Ranger Monument Foundation, will be a member of the new base.  Stringham was a close friend of the late Marauder Phil Piazza, who started the Merrill’s Marauders Association after WW II ended. Kinney hopes to meet members of the local unit, whose ranks have swelled from 11 to 35, sometime in the fall when the weather is better – Covid permitting. The new USARA base is the only one in that area.

98-year-old Marauder “Gil” Howland is honored guest in Pennsylvania’s “longest-running” July 4^th parade

Marauder Bob Passanisi slated to attend November American Veterans Center’s 24^th Annual Conference in Washington, DC

Merrill’s Marauder Bob Passanisi, 97, from Lindenhurst, NY has accepted a special Veterans Day invitation from the American Veterans Center (AVC) in Washington, DC to be part of its 24^th Annual Conference Nov. 5 and 6.  It will feature the first “American Valor: A Salute to our Veterans” show. C-Span regularly televises the conference.  Passanisi will be sharing his military history with young, future service members as well as fellow veterans.  Hundreds of students from West Point, the Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, Coast Guard Academy and more than two dozen ROTC and JROTC programs have attended previous AVC conferences where they’ve had the opportunity to listen to some of America’s most distinguished and decorated veterans and active-duty service members. Passanisi will take part in the AVC’s “American Valor: A Salute to our Veterans,” show honoring military heroes. American Valor will be the Nov. 6 closing event of AVC’s 24^th Annual Conference at the Omni Shoreham in Washington, DC.  Alongwith C-Span, the show will be televised the weekend of Veterans Day, 2021, on ABC and local stations nationwide, as well as worldwide on American Forces Network.